IT tool for development in Meghalaya

Shillong, Apr 23 (UNI) The Meghalaya government has taken a number of initiatives to facilitate the growth and development of Information Technology (IT), a tool for attaining all round development in the state, Deputy Chief Minister Timothy D Shira said today.

''The vision of the state is to make IT a tool for attaining all round development in the state and to fully participate in the IT revolution to bring prosperity to the people,'' Mr Shira told the Assembly during the Question Hour.

Mr Shira said setting up of Wi-Fi hotspots in Shillong was also on the anvil to ease internet usage for students, business travellers and entrepreneurs, adding that funds for this project was awaited from the North Eastern Council.

Informing that the state had set up the first IT park, Mr Shira said the government has signed an MoU with the STPI Guwahati and handed an area of over 1.15 acres of land at Lum Jingshai to STPI.

''The Park has been made functional marking the beginning of the first step towards bringing Meghalaya as the future IT destination of the Eastern region,'' the Deputy Chief Minister said.

He also informed that the IT department had also made a proposal for setting up an IT estate at New Shillong through the PPP vehicle.

''80 acres of land has already been identified for the purpose by Urban Affairs department, and we are looking now at the possibility of converting half of the estate area into an IT SEZ,'' he asserted.

Mr Shira informed that the government has entered into an agreement with Symantec International for IT advisory services and for human resources development programmes to increase the employability potential of the youths in the state.

UNI RRK PL AK KP1522